If you’ve noticed black windows while perusing home design inspiration, you might have a few key questions. We’re here to give you the backstory on where black-framed windows go best, let you know how to keep them looking beautiful over time, and even talk about cost.
If you’re asking yourself this question, the answer is no. While it’s true that they’ve gained popularity in recent years, you can rest assured that choosing black windows will not make your home look dated in a few years. “Sometimes that initial popularity is about ushering in a new standard,” said interior designer Carrie Valentine of Minnesota-based Charest Valentine Interiors.
A new standard is exactly right. Black windows are another tool for creating an up-to-date look, no matter if your home’s style is modern, traditional, or something in-between. While black windows might have been seen as a strictly modern look previously, the rise of transitional architecture, which mixes elements of traditional and modern styles, means there’s more flexibility in how black windows are used. Black windows can work on a farmhouse, a modern home, and many more styles!
Black windows work as beautifully on the European farmhouse home on the left as they do on the modern rowhouse on the right.
Black interiors elevate windows and frame the landscape the way a mat frames a painting. Valentine, who recently built a country farmhouse for her own family, calls her black windows the “art of her home” because of the way they focus attention on a unique view in every room.
Here are a few ideas to get you started making the most of beautiful black windows:
While black windows tend to have a dramatic effect on the interior, on the exterior you can make choices to either draw attention to them or downplay them depending on your desired look. Before we dig in, there’s one thing you need to know: Technically, black is considered a neutral — not a color. This means black-framed windows will go with any exterior color you desire.
Here are two approaches to pairing black windows with an exterior color:
The black windows on this house really pop against the white exterior (even in a snowstorm).
Black is a standard color option available within the A-Series, E-Series, 400 Series, and 100 Series lines. In most cases, ordering this color will not increase the price of your windows. However, there is an additional cost to selecting black within the 100 Series line due to the technology required.
More good news here: You don’t have to worry about your black windows fading over time. Windows from the E-Series, A-Series and 100 Series product lines come with fade warranties. These windows are virtually maintenance-free and do not require repainting.
An excellent and affordable black window option is the 100 Series. Made of patented Fibrex® material, these windows are twice as strong as vinyl. And unlike black vinyl windows, which often fare poorly in hot climates (sometimes even melting), Fibrex material performs well in all climates, even when exposed to extreme temperatures.
Want to start exploring your options? Our design tool will let you work through the selection process so you can start envisioning your new black windows. Or keep reading for advice on pairing windows and with a dark exterior.
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